This blog is an insight to the thoughts behind the writer that is I...

Thursday, March 9, 2017

Authors in the Spotlight 3/9

In today's Authors in the Spotlight, we have authors DW Plato and Robert C. Brewster!

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Name: DW Plato (this is a pseudonym I made up in fourth grade)

How long have you been published? June 16th, 2016

What’s the worst part about being published? I think I learned everything about what NOT to do with this first novel. The worst thing about having it “out there” is a desire to still fix/edit/rewrite. I could literally tweek this book to death!

What’s the best part of being published? Being a published author has been a lifelong goal (since kindergarten). The best thing is to have it scratched off the ole bucket list. If I died tomorrow, “Author” would be on the list of things I’ve accomplished. I also love the look on people’s faces when you tell them, “I’m an author.” Priceless!

Are you self-published or did you go through a publishing company? Self-published (I used Create Space, a great tool for beginner authors.) Also MQuills Publishing Assist was a huge help! As for the highs and lows of self-publications, there aren’t many as it is what it is… The highs are you (the author) are in complete control. The lows are you (the marketer) are in complete control. You must hustle to get the word out your book is worth reading. It’s work. There are good and bad with this route, but… I recommend it, especially if you are one of those people who take control of your own life/career, etc.

What is the name of your book? The Sinners’ Club

Was it/were they an easy write for you? LOL! I’m a put-the-cart-before-the-horse kinda gal. I just wrote and wrote for seven months. I had no idea what I was doing. When the novel was done, it was over six hundred pages!!! (Who knew a page isn’t a page, it’s 250 words or so…?) Anyway… once the writing was over, the work really began. I needed a content editor, a line editor, and a remedial English 101 course.

What’s the hardest part about writing a book? The editing and marketing. (The writing part is easy and fun; the rest is work!)

Where can interested readers purchase their copy of your book(s)?My website, plus Amazon, Kindle or it’s available on audio at Audible.com. (I’m a huge audio junkie. Christopher Shelby Sloan, the guy that did the recording, is an artist in his field and he seriously preforms my novel. It’s amazing to hear it come to life like that.)

Do you have any future projects in the works? Is there a tentative release date? Yes! Glue is my next release. It is with the editor now. I’m hoping to have it out (and in audio) by April or May of this year. The Pharm is the sequel to The Sinners’ Club and should be out by December. My goal is to publish one (or two) books a year. I have nine ideas simmering in the back of my brain, plenty to keep me busy, LOL! I really want to dabble in some historical fiction, that’s the next genre for me to explore.

Do you have any social media sites that you would like to share with my readers? Yes, thank you. All the normal ones… Twitter and Instagram. Of course, I also have Facebook, LinkedIn and GooglePlus for my blogs and events/book updates.

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Name: Robert C. Brewster

How long have you been published? Since 2008

What's the worst part about being published? I can’t think of one.

What's the best part about being published? That your work is finally out there for people to find and appreciate.

Are you self published or did you go through a publishing company? I’m self published since I gave up trying to find a traditional one who have a tendency to jerk people around.

*What are the highs, if any? Well the best thing is that I retain all my rights since I am the author and publisher.

*What are the lows, if any? That my books are not on the bookshelves in book stores.

What is the name of your book(s)? My latest will be my 7th book. I sent you a link to my authors page.

Was it/were they an easy write for you? Once the characters take over my mind then it becomes a lot easier. They take me where they want to go and not necessarily where I had planned to take them.

What's the hardest part about writing a book? "On the road to find out" was the toughest for me because it was nonfiction. It required me to delve into my past and re-experience emotions I forgot were there.

What's the easiest part about writing a book? When the characters totally takeover and a story line emerges. I never start a book knowing how it is going to end.